Shake it like a salt maker

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It Happens Only in India

Shake it like a salt maker

By: Santosh :+: Under: It Happens Only in India, Politics
On: ⋅ January 14, 2007 ⋅

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What happens when the “Man of the 20th century” meets “The Invention of the year 2006″?

Gandhi video
Time to get sexy - Gandhi mix???
(Photo: Boing Boing)

A controversial video about Mahatma Gandhi made by NRI Gautham Prasad is generating a huge controversy in India and abroad.

Hawaii-based NRI comedian, Gautham Prasad has created a huge controversy in India, with his parody of Mahatma Gandhi. The 3 minute 24 second act, on Google’s video sharing site, YouTube, has resulted in angry protests across Ahmedabad , Bhubhaneshwar, Varanasi, with the vulgar portrayal of Gandhi.

The video, shot in the US, shows Prasad clad in Gandhi’s trademark attire, pole dancing and stripping for an audience. Records on YouTube show the video, called ‘Time to get sexy’ was uploaded a month ago.

The reaction in India is ranging from the predictable to the utterly ridiculous.

While Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, saw members of Gandhi Sena holding a silent protest, Varanasi saw a more violent one. Students of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, stopped a train from leaving the Varanasi station and threatened to call for a state-wide shutdown, while the silent protesters demanded action against Gautham Prasad. Children also joined the protest by singing religious songs.

Even more predictably, the Indian government has gotten in on the act and threatened to ban YouTube. As for my views on the topic, I agree with Patrix. While the video is in extremely poor taste, I don’t believe banning YouTube or any other online media is the way to deal with this issue. Once you go down that path, its a slippery slope. That being said, I do find it pathetic that while the world media clamors to honor this man, an Indian man chooses to use him in a tasteless manner for his own 15 minutes in the spotlight.

Discussion

5 comments for “Shake it like a salt maker”

1: Heather Flanagan | January 21, 2007, 9:55 pm | Direct Link

I think that there can be positive portrayals of Gandhi and positively irreverant ones. Here is an example of a positive one:

http://pugettown.wordpress.com.....ng-gandhi/

2: uber desi dot com » Blog Archive » Should the government regulate Internet content? | January 22, 2007, 10:48 am | Direct Link

[...] Desi Talent, American Idol (Update: with correct names)Narain Karthikeyan to race for Team India in the A1GPNarain finishes second in A1 practiceThis guy really likes SoniaNarain gets down to businessBollywood actress target of alleged racism on Big Brother (update: Jade evicted)The Fast and the Furious: Chennai Drift (update: DUI alert)The two dragons - The Lankan ConflictSmack that, all on the floor, Smack that, Not anymoreShake it like a salt maker [...]

3: Santosh | January 22, 2007, 1:14 pm | Direct Link

Heather,
Thanks for the link. I’ve linked to your post on another article.

4: Heather Flanagan | January 22, 2007, 8:12 pm | Direct Link

Santosh, Hey! Thanks! I’ll go check it out, then.

5: uber desi dot com » Blog Archive » Moral Policing of Indian Television part of larger Government Conspiracy? | May 27, 2007, 12:48 am | Direct Link

[...] the pole dancing Gandhi? Two news channels, IBN and Sahara, were forced to apologize by … who else …. I&B [...]